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Safety improvements will be made at eight street-level railroad crossings in downtown Wilkes-Barre, according to local officials.Most of the changes stem from a Jan. 9 Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) and state Department of Transportation inspection of the crossings that included representatives of Wilkes-Barre and the Luzerne County Redevelopment Authority, which owns the track.Authority administrative assistant/program manager Margaret Thomas briefed the authority board on the review at last week&#8217;s meeting and said later that the inspection stemmed from an October <a href="https://www.timesleader.com/news/722139/near-misses-between-trains-cars-in-wb-raise-crossing-safety-questions" target="_blank">Times Leader story and video </a>about a motorist who narrowly escaped getting hit by an approaching train on East Market Street.Thomas provided this summary on safety plans for the following crossings:&#8226; Wilkes-Barre Boulevard near the Cross Valley Expressway Due to faster-traveling vehicles in this area, flashing yellow lights will be attached to new yield signs to draw more attention to the crossing.Motorists are required to yield at all crossings to make sure it&#8217;s safe to cross. To reinforce this mandate, the Federal Railroad Administration is requiring the addition of yield signs at all crossings that rely on crossbuck signs this year, officials have said. Some state or federal funding should be available to help cover this expense, officials said.&#8226; Parrish Street Two crossbuck signs must be moved closer to the road because they are not visible enough, the PUC determined.The signs were set back because of trees that Wilkes-Bare has agreed it will cut down, said Jim Raffa, sales and marketing vice president at Luzerne Susquehanna Railway, the company that maintains and operates trains on the authority&#8217;s line.Wilkes-Barre City Operations Director Butch Frati said the trees will be removed as soon as possible.&#8226; East Market Street PUC was concerned a landscaping bush at the corner of the Best Western Plus Genetti Hotel &amp; Conference Center parking lot may be obstructing the view of an oncoming train. Thomas said she sent a letter to hotelier Gus Genetti requesting the bush be trimmed to about 3 feet high.&#8220;We will be happy to comply with the request to increase the safety of residents,&#8221; Genetti told a reporter.&#8226; Butler StreetPavement markings and signs were missing and must be replaced by the city.Frati said the city already planned to add new pavement markings at all eight crossings after the city assessed the locations following the media report last fall. The marking will be completed this spring, he said.Instead of paint, the city will rely on an outside contractor to apply heated plastic markings to the roadway, he said. This technique lasts longer &#8212; up to a decade &#8212; and has a more reflective finish, he said.Signs will be added where needed and can be made by the city in-house, Frati said.&#8220;We will jump on these as quickly as we can,&#8221; he said.&#8226; Dana Street In addition to pavement marking, a newly installed crossbuck sign has been knocked over and must be replaced.&#8226; Hazle Street A crossbuck sign must be relocated.No issues were identified at the Conyngham Avenue and East Northampton Street crossings, Thomas said. However, Frati stressed the pavement marking will be addressed at all city crossings.Thomas said the state will perform another inspection to verify implementation of all recommended changes.Redevelopment Authority member Scott Linde praised inspection participants for their cooperation.&#8220;It was a very positive meeting,&#8221; Raffa said.Frati said he appreciated the PUC input.&#8220;They&#8217;re very knowledgeable people. They know what they&#8217;re doing.&#8221;PUC spokesperson Nils Hagen-Frederiksen said the commission&#8217;s rail safety inspectors are constantly checking crossings, track conditions, railroad equipment, signaling systems, operator training and hazardous material handling throughout the state.&#8220;When concerns are raised about safety conditions in a specific area, we work to promptly follow up with railroads and other stakeholders,&#8221; Hagen-Frederiksen said.<style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre plans to cut down this tree on Parrish Street so the rail crossing sign can be moved closer to the roadway &#8212; a state recommendation to increase safety, officials said. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011819RRCrossing2-1-.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wilkes-Barre plans to cut down this tree on Parrish Street so the rail crossing sign can be moved closer to the roadway &#8212; a state recommendation to increase safety, officials said. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Move comes in wake of October TL report</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Jennifer Learn-Andesjandes@www.timesleader.com</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>Reach Jennifer Learn-Andes at 570-991-6388 or on Twitter @TLJenLearnAndes.</shirttailMeta></div>

Safety enhancements planned for downtown Wilkes-Barre train crossings